Research

Principle Investigator – 2012 – Present

“Healthy as a Horse” is a pilot study examining the effect of an Equine Assisted Learning program’s ability to influence weight management in children ages 7 – 12 years of age. The program takes place in Binghamton, New York with participants and their families recruited from area medical offices.

Principle Investigator – 2010

Dissertation - “What is the Relationship between Increasing Body Weight and the Changes in Frequency of Falls, Number of Pressure Sores and Ability to Ambulate, Over the First Nine Months of Admission, among Newly Admitted Residents to Medicare and Medicaid Certified Long-Term Care Facilities in America in 2007?”

A quantitative study examining the effect of the change between initial weight and maximum weight, as well as initial Body Mass Index and maximum Body Mass Index on falls, pressure sores and locomotion, among newly admitted residents to Medicare and Medicaid certified long-term care facilities in California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Missouri and New York in 2007.

National Convention - American Dietetic Association. Denver, Colorado. October, 2009. Chosen as a presenter at the FNCE Innovations in Practice & Education session. A criterion for selection was based on development of new programs to teach students/practitioners skills that will move them into future practice roles.

Spring Conference – Southeastern Region New York State PTA. Endwell, New York. May, 2009. “Childhood Obesity – I’m not tall enough to be this fat.”

State Conference - Georgia/South Carolina Association for Homes and Services for the Aging. Annual Conference. Closing Keynote. April, 2005. “Accepting the Challenge and Leading the Charge.”

Education

Dr. Battisti received her bachelor's degree from Binghamton University and her master's degree in Food and Nutrition from Marywood University. She received her Ph.D. in Human Development-Health Promotion from Marywood University.

Professional Memberships

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics New York State Dietetic Association Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors

United Health Services (UHS)- Eating Disorder Clinic. Served as the Registered Dietitian for the clinic. Provide shadowing and nutrition screening experience for dietetic students from numerous universities, and for the medical students and physicians of the Residency Program at UHS.

New York State Department of Health Nursing Home Quality Improvement Demonstration Grant awarded through the Vestal Nursing Center, Vestal, New York. Received a $35,000.00 grant to provided weight reduction and massage therapy to improve the recruitment and retention of staff. The grant was administered from May, 2004 through December, 2004.